brown



(No Model.) -2 sheets-suben 1.

QG. W. BROWN. FIRE ALARM SIGNALING APPARATUS.

No. 544,084. Patented Aug.6,1895.

' DISCONN MANI-:5555:

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. W. BROWN. PIRE ALARM .SIGNALING APPARATUS.

INVENTU R:

' Patented Aug. 6,

Mwah-555:

UNITED STATES vPATENT y Critics.

GILMAN W. BROVN, vOF VEST NEWBURY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HAYDN BROWN,OF SAME PLAGE.

FIRE-ALARM SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,084, dated August 6, 1895.

Application filed September 1, 1892. Serial N0. 444,729. (N0 model.)

To all whom t may concer-71,.-

Be it known that I, GILMAN WV. BROWN, of West Newbury, in the county of Essex and State of lVIassachusetts,have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Fire-Alarm Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for` its object to provideV an improved signaling apparatus for use-as a part of the improved automatic tire-alarm system shown in Letters Patent No. 463,608, dated November 17,1891, said patented invention consisting, mainly, in the combination with a main-line circuit and an electromagnet provided with a polarized armature, of a pole-changing thermostat located in the line and adapted to be operated by heat in such manner as to reverse the circuit, and thus canse the electromagnet to so act on the polarized armature as to let off a gong-operating motor and gives an audible signal, said motor being locked by a detent controlled by the polarized armature when the latter is in the position in which it is held by the electromagnet under normal conditions. The apparatus shown in said patent is also organized so that it will give a visual indication of ,the condition of the 1ine,includingv a normal condition and the condition caused bya reversal ofthe current, and will give both a visual and an audible indication of other changes, such as the breakage of the line or the running down of the battery, the visual indication being given in each case by an oscillatory pointer controlled by a galvanorneter-coil ineluded in the main circuit, said pointer being held normally at one extreme of itsl movement by the current through the galvanoineter-coil when the system is in its normal condition ready for use, and at the other eXtreme of its movement when the current is reversed by the action of a thermostat. AThe pointer assumes by gravitation an intermediate posiv tion when the battery is weakened, and another intermediate position when the line breaks. rIfhe audi-ble signal is given by any change of position of the polarized armature sufficient to let ott the gong-striking mechanism, such change of position being caused by the partial retraction of the armature when the current is weakened by the running down l ofthe battery and by the complete retraction of the armature which takes place both when the current is reversed by the action of a thermostat and when the line breaks. The vsaid patented apparatus therefore includes two ysets of devices-namely: the visual indicator or signal controlled by a galvanometercoil and the audible signal controlled by an electromagnet and a polarized armature.

The present invention has for its object to provide a simpler and more effective signaling apparatus, in which an electromagnet and a polarized armature therefor shall control both the visual and the audible signal.

The invention also has for its object to provide an improved form of electromagnet and polarized armature, whereby the lines of force Vemanating from the poles of the electromagnet are more effectively applied in either at- 7o tracting or repelling the polarized armature. The invention also has for its object to provide means whereby an attendant may stop the ringing of the gong after an alarm has been given and at the same time display a device indicating that there is a detect n the line, so that it will not be necessary to keep the gong in operation until the line has been repaired.

To these ends my invention consists in the 8o several improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l represents a front elevation of a tire-alarm signaling apparatus embodying my improvements. Fig.

2 represents a front elevation of parts of the apparatus on a larger scale. Fig. 3 represents a top view of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. t represents a section on line 4 4, Fig. 2. 9o Fig. 5 represents a diagram showing the preferred arrangement and manner of connecting the coils of the electromagnet. Fig. 6 represents a front View showing the position of the pointer when in position to indicate that lthe line is broken. Fig. 7 represents a front view showing the position of the pointer when indicating thata thermostat has been sprung.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the gures.

My improved signaling apparatus or receiving-instrument includes an audible signal,

here shown as an electromechanically-open ated gong or bell a, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) a hammer or striker h, the arm b2 of which is pivoted at h to asupport within the casing c, a motor to oscillate said hammer, and an electrical]y-controlled let-off mechanism which under normal conditions locks the hammer and is adapted to release the same and permit its operation under the conditions hereinafter described. The motor as here shown comprises a spur-wheel d, affixed to a drum d', (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) mounted on a shaft e, which is journaled in bearingsin the supportingframmand aweight f, pivoted at]c4 to a pulleyfs, which is suspended in the bight of a cord f', one end of which is attached to the drum d and the other to an eye f2, aiiixed to the casing c. The gravitating force of the weight tends to rotate the spur-wheel d in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l. The teeth of the spurwheel co-operate with pawls g g', which are pivoted to the hammer-arm, said teeth and pawls being formed and arranged as in gongstriking mechanisms already well known to cause the rotation of the wheel d to impart. an oscillating movement to the hammer h. 'lhe hammer is locked and released by the action of an electromagnet on a polarized armature, but said electromagnet and armature instead of controlling only the hammer or striker', as in my former patent, are constructed to also control the pointer or visual signal 71, which cooperates with the graduated scale-plate i in indicating the different conditions that may existin the system. The

electromagnet preferably comprises four coils or spools 't' t' and t" fi', arranged horizontally and arranged about a common center, the coils being connected as indicated in Fig. 5, so that the coils t' t' are of one polarity and the coils t" i of opposite polarity. The cores of said magnets have extended polepieces i2, each of which is provided with a slot t5.

j represents the polarized armature, which is made with a series of armsj corresponding in number with the coils of the electromagnet-that is to say, there is one arm j for each magnet-coil. The armature is made of hardened steel and is a permanent m ultipolar magnet, two of its arms being positive poles and the other two negative poles, the positive and negative poles alternating, as shown in Fig. 2, where the positive poles are indicated by the sign and the negative poles by the sign The armature j is affixed to a shaft or stud j?, which is journaled to turn in bearings in a fixed support, the pointer 71, being affixed to said shaft.

jg represents a collar affixed to the shaft 52 and provided in its periphery with two recesses ji jt. Said collar constitutes a part of the let-oit mechanism, which includes, also, a lever 7c, pivoted at 7e to a fixed support and provided with an arm 7a2, arranged to bear on a finger h3 on the hammer-arm, (and thus lock the hamn1er,) and a weighted arm 7i", pivoted at 7a4 to the upper end ot' the lever 7a. Said arm 7e3 has at one end a tooth or projection 7.1, (preferablyprovided with a small antifrietioir roller, as shown in Fig. 2,) which is formed to engage one of the recesses in the eollar 7"",tln1\y weight 7e on the opposite end et' the arm 7.1"" being arranged to press the projection 76" upwardly against the collar j when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2. The arm 7c3 is provided with a tooth 71:7, which when the projection 7t'5 is in one of the recessesj engages a xed stop 7cs on the supporting-frame, thus locking the arm 7a3, lever 7o', and hammer h. The arrangement is such that the hammer is locked as last described only when the armatnrej, pointer 71, and collarjg are in the position in which they are held by the electromagnet when the system is in its normal eondition and in working order, the direction ot' the current being then such that the attraetion of the arms of the polarized armature hy the poles of the electromagnet holds the are mature in the position shown in Figs. l and 2,the pointer 71, being over the mark O. K. on the plate z' and the projection 7x in the first recess jl.

The main circuit includes a series otl polechanging thermostats located at suitable points in the building or plant protected by the system, each thermostat having two sets of pole-changing arms, one set consisting ot' conducting-springs held in tension by fusible solder and in position to conduct the current in one direction, while the pole-changing arms of the other set are connected to said springs and although normally not included in the line-circuit are included therein by the operation ofthe springs lo reverse the linc-cur rent when said springs are released, so that the rupture by heat et' the fusible solder holding the springs in tension will causo a reversal ofthe current in the manner fully described in Patent No. 463,608, above referred to.

vWhen the current is reversed as last described, the reversal of the polarity of the poles of the electromagnet causes each polo to repel the arm of the armature previously attracted by it and attract the next arm, so that the armature and pointer will be moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This movement will cause the collar f to displace the arm 7e3 and release the hammer, and at the same time cause the pointer 7iy to point to theword Fire on the plate l?.

In case the line breaks the electroniagnct becomes demagnetized and releases the armature, so that the pointer 7L moves by gravita tion to a vertical position, as shown in Fig. tl, and points to the words Line broken on the plate t', the collar ji being at. the same time moved sufficiently to release the hammer or striker.

rlhe armature and pointer are held in the position to indicate O. K. and prevent the op eration ofthe hammer, wholly by the t'oree ot' the current. Hence any weakening ot the lat- IOO ter permits the pointer to move by gravitation toward a vertical position. In case the current becomes sufficiently weakened by the running down ot' the battery to permit the tirst recess jt to pass by the projection 105, the ham mer is released and at the same time the pointer points to the words Battery run down on the plate It will be seen, therefore, that an audible and a visual signal or indication are given in case ot each of the events above described.

As it is not desirable that the gong should continue to ring indefinitely afterit has been released by the breakage of the line, I provide a device whereby the operator may restore the projection c to engagement with a recess in the collarjs, thus locking the hammer and at the same time displaying a sign indicating that the line is not operative. Said device comprises a plate o, which bears the word Disconnected, and is pivoted at o to a support within the casing. Said plate has a pin or stud o2, which is arranged to act on A a projection or cam k6 on the lever 7a.

o3 represents a rod pivoted at 04 to an offset ear on the plateo and extending through the casing c, its outer end having a knob or handie. by the breaking of the line, the collarj3 stands in such position that its second or right-hand recessj4 is in position to receive the projection 7.55, when the arm kg is moved to position to engage its tooth k7 with the fixed tooth rs. Normally the plate 0 stands in the vertical position shown by full lines in Fig. l and is concealed by an opaque part of the door of the casing. When an alarm has been given by the breaking of the line, the operator may stop the operation of the gong by pulling out the rod o3, thus causing the plate o to swing to the horizontal position shown by dotted lines in Figui, so that it can be seen through the glass of the door. This movement causes the pin o2 to act on the cam or projection k6 in such manner as to throw the lever k into its hammer-arresting position and engage the projection h5 with the second recess jt. The. gong is therefore silenced, but the plate o re# mains in position to show that the line is inoperative. After the line has been repaired the hammer-will be released by the movement of the armature and pointer back to the O. K. position. The operator then seeing that the line is operative pushes in the rod 03, thus raising the plate o to its concealed position and causing the pin o2 to again throw the lever 7e' to its hammer-locking position and engage the projection [fc5 with the first recess j4, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be seen, therefore, that the same electromagnet controls both the audible signal and the visual signal, so that the apparatus is materially simplified by the employment of the multiple-pole electromagnet and the multiple-pole polarized armature adapted to swing or rotate on a horizontal axis. The electromagnet and armature thus organized are particularly adapted to control When the armature has been released' both a gong-striking mechanism and a visual Signal or pointer, because the armature moves in a plane that is parallel with the attracting surfaces of the ples of the electromagnet and is always more completely under the control of the lines of force emanating from said poles than would be the case if the armature Were movable in a direction substantially at right angles with the attracting-surfaces of the poles of the electromagnet, as in the ordinary arrangement of an electromagnet and its armature. i

It is well known that the force exerted by an ordinary electromagnet, such as that shown in my former patent, on its armature, decreases very rapidly as the armature recedes from the poles of the magnet, so that'while the force is comparatively great when the armature is in contact with or in very close proximity to the poles, it is comparatively Weak When the armature is retracted, and is not therefore adapted to give the armature a sutticientlystrong and quickinitial movement when the current is reversed to operate the two signals with the desired certainty and promptness. Myimproved construction and arrangement of the electromagnet and its polarized armature obviate this objection,the armaturebeing at no part of its movement sufciently removed from the acting-surfaces of the poles ofthe electromagnet to materially deprive'the lines of force of the desired control over the armature.

I prefer to bevel the surfaces of the arms of the armaturej at their edges, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the beveled faces being arranged to cause asutcient variation in the force exerted on the armature by lthe poles of the electromagnet to give the armature a longer excursion than it would have it its sides were not thus beveled, there being a slight increase of force during the movement ot each arm into the slot i3 that receives it until the beveled portion has entered theI slot.

IOC

p represents a shield affixed to the casing c i in position to cover the weight f, when the latter is in its highest position. AVihen the weight descends in operating the gong, it emerges from behind the shield and becomes exposed to view, thus making it apparent that an alarm has been given, so that the fact that the line is disconnected and that the gongstriking mechanism is in a run-down or inop' erative condition will be conspicuously indicated. I prefer to mark the word Alarm on the weight, as indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 1. The line Wires a: x', which are connected with the coils of the electromagnet in the manner indicated in Fig. 5, enter the ap paratus through a switch y and a lightningarrester e', which are or may be of any. suitable and well-known construction.

I do not limit myself to the particular devices here shown, whereby the hammer is locked and released by movements ot the polarized armature, as said devices may be variously modified without departing from the spirit cf my invention; neither del limit myself tothe use ot the slots i in the polea of the electromagnet, although I prefer the eamo be cause they increaee the areas; oi' th e attractingsurtaees ot' said poles.

The combination of a polarized armature, mounted to rotate or oeciilate in a plane parallel with the actingsurfaces ot' the poles of the electromagnct, with a visual signal and the let-oit mechaniem ot an audible signal, both controlled by said armature, new, so tar as I am aware. Hence I do not limit myself so 'tar as the form and construction ci' the electromagnet and armature are concerned, as any form and construction which will produce the described result, the armature being adapted to move as described relatively to the acting surfaces of the poles ot the electro magnet, is intended by me to be within the scope of my claims.

I claiml. A multipola-r electro magnet having' its poles arranged around a common center and each provided with a slot the sides ol' which constitute the acting; surfaces ot the polea, combined with a multipolar polarized armature mounted to rotate in a plane substantially parallel. with said su rfaeee, and between the sides of said slots, as set forth.

2. A multipolar electro magnet having'slotted poles, the sides of the slots constituting' the acting surfaces of the poles, combined with a inuitipolar polarized armature mounted to rotate or oscillate in a plane substantially parallel with said surface and provided with beveled sides, as set forth.

3. The combination ol' an electro magnet, a polarized armature mounted to rotate or os- ,cillate in a plane substantially parallel with the acting surfaces of the poles ot' the electro magnet, a pointer or visual signal aliixed to Said armature, an audible signal or gong hav` ing' a striking; mechanism, and a let oll mechanism controlled by said armature, Vs set forth.

ll. The combination of an electro magnet, a polarized armature mounted to rotate or oseillate iu a plane substantially parallel with the acting' surfaces ot the poles oi the electro magnet, an audible signal or gong having a striking mechanism, and a let oil mechanism comprising' [irst a pivoted .lever having' an arm or detent adapted to arrest the strikingy mechanism, secondly a notched or recessed collar atixed to the polarized arinatu1'c,:nnl thirdly a latch or weighted arm pivoted to said lever and adapted to engage a tooth on said weighted arm and thus lock the lever and the striking* mechanism when the Said arm is engaged with the recessed collar, said arm being displaced by a movement ot the armature and collar, ae Set t'orth.

The combination ot' an electro magnet, a polarized armature mounted to move in a plane substantially parallel with the acting surfaces ol' the poles ol' said magnet, a gong or audible signal having a striking' mechanism, a let oft' mechanism for said striking1r mechanism controlled by said armature and adapted to be operated to release the striking mechaniem by a movementI et the armature from its normal position, and a combined indicator and resetting device adapted to restore the let oft' n'iechanism 'lo its hammer locking' position7 as set forth.

(i. The combination of: an electro magnet, a polarized armature mounted to rotate or osciilate in a plane sulustantially parallel with the acting` surfaces ot' the poles ot the electro magnet, an audible signal or gong having a striking mechanism, a let oll mechanism com pricing tiret a pivoted lever, adapted to arrest the striking mechanism, secondly a collar atlixed to the armature and provided with two recesses in its periphery, and thirdly a latch or weighted arm pivoted to the lever and adapted to engage one of said notches, a fixed tooth or detent arranged to engage a tooth on said Weighted arm when the latter is engaged with one of said notches, and a pivoted plate or indicator within the casing, provided with an operating' rod and with a pin or projection arranged to co-operate with cam or projection on said lever in resetting the let ol't` mechanism, as set forth.

7. The combination ot a polarized armature, a pointer or visual signal connected therewith and adapted to be moved by changes ot position ot the polarized armature, an electi'oinccl1anical gong, and a letolt mechanism which is released by a inovement of the Said armature.

In testimony whereotl I have .Signed my name to this specification, in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses, this 9th day ot' August, A. D. 1892.

Glldlirlhl \V. BROWN. lVitneenes:

(t F. BROWN, N. S. Moliner.

IDD 

